Z5 -- when?

[CeEl]

Reading the various posts & mule sightings on other sites ... some say the car will be released in 2017, others say it will be 2018. Is this just a model year vs. calendar year issue? Or do we simply not know and are just speculating?

Do you think (know?) whether the car will come out in April 2017 (I think the current Z4 was released in the April time frame to show rooms) or do you think it will be calendar year 2018?

[Jim B]

When Hell freezes over.

[yousefnjr]

I was hoping we'd see something cool or Z-related (even just a concept...) this year for the 100-year bday. Still a few months to go, but I'm definitely not holding my breath. Centennial has been kind of a bust so far IMO, a limited edition pen just isn't hitting the spot for me

[NickyC]

With BMWs ridiculous prices, I couldn't care less. This is coming from a guy who has owned seven different Z cars. Z4M Roadster for lyfe! (or at least until a bearing spins, whichever comes first)

[Viffermike]

Since the last Z4 rolled off the production line four days ago, in-the-wild camo shots indicate the car's still undergoing deep real-world testing, and in consideration of BMW's typical timeline at this stage, I figure the Z5 will be a 2018 model announced in late spring/early summer 2017. So the April date mentioned previously isn't a stretch.

This, however, is partially contingent on the launch timeline Toyota has for the Supra. BMW may be somewhat at the mercy of that -- and if history is any indication regarding development partnerships (the latest example: Miata vs. Fiat 124), the Japanese partner almost always gets first dibs with bringing the model to market. This makes sense -- particularly since BMW is outsourcing Z5 production to Magna Steyr, which will need to be outfitted with CFRP capability to produce the car. That will likely take some time.

[mkoesel]

Could be next year, but it also may be a couple years or more away:

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1100742

Now, we've seen mules appear already, since that article was published. But often product releases trail significantly behind the appearance of their respective test vehicles. For example, the G20 is coming 11/18, but mules are out there today (and have been for quite awhile).

[ipilcher]

Would you rather have a Supra with some BMW bits or a Z5 with some Toyota bits?

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by ipilcher

Would you rather have a Supra with some BMW bits or a Z5 with some Toyota bits?

Honestly? Toyota. No contest.

In fact, either a Supra or the recently verified upcoming Zoom-Zoom RX will probably be my next car. Especially if I can't quite swing a Cayman.

[pz619]

Originally Posted by ipilcher

Would you rather have a Supra with some BMW bits or a Z5 with some Toyota bits?

Supra would be my initial vote. Hard to say though without knowing what both cars will offer. My guess is that the Supra would be cheaper, have all the performance, and have that legendary name behind it.

[Huz-Z]

To be honest I'm expecting this car to be stupidly expensive so I think my next car will be a late model Sdrive 35is or an E85 M.

[ipilcher]

Originally Posted by pz619

Supra would be my initial vote. Hard to say though without knowing what both cars will offer. My guess is that the Supra would be cheaper, have all the performance, and have that legendary name behind it.

That's what I was thinking when I posed the question.

Always wanted a Supra back in the 80s.